Freelance playbooks

Getting paid, step by step

The guides cover one clause at a time. Playbooks cover the whole situation: the steps in order, the wording that decides your leverage, and the free tools for each step — all built on the same public legal sources our contract reviews cite.

PlaybookUpdated 2026-10-12

What to Do When a Client Won’t Pay Your Invoice

When a client won’t pay, work the steps in order: re-read the contract’s payment terms, send a written reminder, escalate to a formal demand letter, then decide whether small claims court is worth it. Each step creates the paper trail the next one needs — and the wording in your contract decides how much leverage you actually have.

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Educational content only — not legal advice, and it creates no attorney–client relationship. For anything material to you, consult a licensed attorney in your state.